Forestry Biomass in a Newfoundland and Labrador ContextLabrador Context

Doreen Churchill, Ph.D.VCO  Workshop on BiomassP i Cl i Q b Centre for Forest Science and Innovation (CFSI)

Forestry and Agrifoods AgencyDepartment of Natural Resources

Pointe‐Claire, QuebecOct. 29 2010

Centre for Forest Science and Innovation

Dedicated research division of Forest Services Branch

Mandate to deliver Provincial Forest Research StrategyMandate to deliver Provincial Forest Research Strategy

New organizational structure to facilitate research

Fundingg

Internal research budget

External funding (e.g. Research DevelopmentExternal funding (e.g. Research Development Corporation, ACOA, NSERC)

M.O.U. – Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, CFS, Forest Services Branch, other partners

Mandate The CFSI is meant to be a catalyst for the evolution of forest 

management and industry in Newfoundland and Labradorg y

Develop a collaborative research program that will provide the knowledge and tools required for forest management in an increasingly challenging environment

Potential to create a forest industry that produces forest expertise and technologies for export along with resource based products.

Specific Objectives

Create cohesion among forest researchers in the province

f h Bring forest researchers and forest managers together to improvetogether to improve application of research outputsp

Build forest research capacity in the provincep y p

Looking for Collaborators

Academic Non‐ governmental organizations

Government agencies Industry Communities

Economic Considerations Industry

Bio‐energy

E i d f t d t Engineered forest products

Bio‐refining

Innovation Innovation

New Forest products

Silviculture

Fiber characteristics

Markets

Developing new markets

Forest Certification

b d Carbon trading

Biomass Related Projects: 

FPInnovations diagnostic of Northern  Peninsula /harvesting/transportation operations (Fall, 2010)

Nutrient Cycling  

Inventory and Characterization of Biomass 

Suitable for Conversion to Biofuels/ChemicalsSuitable for Conversion to Biofuels/Chemicals 

and Most Promising Conversion Options

Biomass Research at MUN Drs. Hawboldt and Helleur in collaboration with Department of Natural 

Resources et al on characterizing forestry residue and developing conversion systems to produce biofuels/chemicals (expand intoconversion systems to produce biofuels/chemicals (expand into municipal/industrial wastes) 

Tasks:

Cl if th i f t bi id i f th i T Classify the various forestry biomass residue regions of the province. Type of biomass (softwood, saw mill residue, pulp and paper waste, residual in forest) will be a critical factor in conversion options

I t f h bi l i l di t f th P l d P Inventory of each biomass pool including waste from the Pulp and Paper industry in NL. 

Inventory locations of feedstock and infrastructure in place for biomass t t t d i Th t bilit t t d ttransport, storage, and processing. The stability, transport, and storage costs are all critical factors in the economic feasibility and the most appropriate conversion processes

A i ti f NL b d d t bt i d b Assess conversion options for NL based on data obtained above 

Inventory and Sample Collection Quantify by‐product and 

waste in current sawmill operations mothballed oroperations, mothballed or abandoned sawmills sites, and pulp and paper mills.

New and old sawdust, planer shavings and bark collected separately.  Grab samples stored in baggiessamples stored in baggies, kept on ice in transport and stored in deep freeze

Inventory Progress

Preparing an Inventory of Forestry biomass

Logging Residues: (Up to 30% sub-merchantable left on site (avg 15%))Small diameter trees, part of tops, barks that strip off, and dead trees

Pulpmill Residues from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper:

Sawmill Residues: (77.5 million FBM production in 2009)Sawdust, Bark, Planer shavings, Trimmings and Slabs

Pulpmill Residues from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper:Bark, and Effluent treatment sludge (Fuel bark and sludge used in boiler)

Wood Waste from Value added Producers:Sawdust and Planer shavings (Majority sold to farmers)

Construction/ Demolition wood waste:(In Corner Brook, used as hogfuel by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper)

Potential Conversion Options Identifying the wood biomass feedstock requirements for 

thermochemical/ biochemical and extraction technologies bby;

‐Particle size‐Moisture content‐Ash content‐Lignin/ Hemicellulose/ Cellulose CompositionH i l‐Heating value

Assessing case studies for implementation of the technologies for forestry residues by;

‐Pretreatment, process flow, equipment, and products

Other biomass research (MUN)

Biomass Pyrolysis Conversion Studies Primary challenges in the field of biomass 

pyrolysis  (450 oC, 2‐3 second reaction, absence of  O2) are the  lack of proper analytical tools  to characterize the complex pyrolysis oil and the inherent instability of the oil as the result of secondary condensation reactions.

An attractive alternative to traditional (external heating) pyrolysis is ( g) py ymicrowave‐assisted heating. The microwave heating occurs internally, the particle size is not as critical, and one has better control over heating rates. P H d l d i li d h t hi /MS b d Progress: Have developed a specialized chromatographic/MS‐based method to separate bio‐oils into family classes (e.g., carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, phenolics). Presently  analyzing 20 bio‐oil samples obtained from different modes of pyrolysis/ various feedstocks (manure, py y / ( ,woods, grasses, corn stover). 

Other biomass research (MUN)Biofuel from recovery of oil from fish processing effleunt  Primary challenges in biofuel from fish waste are the heterogeneity of 

fish waste, remoteness of most fish processing plants in Atlantic p g pCanada (AC), and fish oil is high in free fatty acids and poor cold flow properties

The most attractive option for fish biofuel in AC is on‐site generation for blend in the diesel engine for energy as heating oil for boilers infor blend in the diesel engine for energy, as heating oil for boilers in the surrounding community, and/or blend for marine vessels in the community

Future work: Testing different developed systems to separate/processFuture work: Testing different developed systems to separate/process the oil for use in engines/heaters/boilers. Key parameters in determining optimal methods are waste/oil stability, flexibility to retro‐fit into existing processing operations, storage requirements, and cold weather durabilityand cold weather durability

Forestry Industry in NL

Pulp and Paper Industry: Struggling one mill remainingStruggling, one mill remaining.

Saw mills and value added producers

2 operating wood pellet mills, 1 in developmentExpressions of interest for Expressions of interest  for forest resources in central NL and Labrador

Biomass Industry in NL Historically NL forest economy has been based on pulp wood and lumberpulp wood and lumber

Pulp and paper industry is in distress Abitibi Consolidated mill in Stephenville closed 2005 Abitibi‐Consolidated mill in Stephenville closed 2005

Abitibi Bowater mill in Grand Falls‐Windsor closed 2009

1 remaining mill: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (Kruger) 1 remaining mill: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (Kruger)   

Energy wood harvesting has begun Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Corner Brook Pulp and Paper

Pellet Plant (Holson Forest Products)

Sawmill Residue (Active Sites 2009)Holson Forest Products(Roddickton)

Burton’s Cove Logging &

ProvinceProduction: 77.5 million FBM

Burton s Cove Logging & Lumber (Hampden)

No of mills surveyed: 10

Total Residue: 65,246 t/ y

Hogfuel: 79%

Cottles Island Lumber (Summerford)

Stock piled on mill sites:11,248 t/ y

Bark: 4,630 t/ y (41%)

Slabs 4 039 t/ (36%) Sexton LumberSlabs: 4,039 t/ y (36%)

Sawdust: 2,159 t/ y (19%)

Shavings: 420 t/ y (4%)

Sexton Lumber (Bloomfield)

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper

Biomass Issues – Policy, Guidelines, Regulations? 

Ecological Issues:Ecological Issues:

Current harvest system in NL is cut to length

Whole tree harvest for biomass: Whole tree harvest for biomass: Is it ecologically sound for NL? 

R l f d d b i d f li Removal of coarse woody debris and foliage  soil nutrient levels

ildlif d bi di it wildlife and biodiversity

Water quality and riparian

Biomass Issues – Policy, Guidelines, Regulations? 

Forest Management/Economic Issues:Forest Management/Economic Issues:

Energy wood consideration in AAC determination

stumpage /scaling /pricing stumpage /scaling /pricing

allocation/licensing system for forest resources ( h t t t )(changes to tenure system)

Export markets 

Forest Industry diversification 

Forest Certification (FSC, SFI, CSA, ISO)

Forestry Biomass in a Newfoundland and Labrador ContextLabrador Context

Doreen Churchill Ph DVCO Workshop on Biomass Doreen Churchill, Ph.D.

Centre for Forest Science and Innovation (CFSI)

Forestry and Agrifoods Agency

Department of Natural Resources

VCO  Workshop on BiomassPointe‐Claire, QuebecOct. 28 and 29 2010

Department of Natural Resources